Swing indicator for a golf club



June 5, 1962 c. CHEDISTER ETAL SWING INDICATOR FOR A GOLF CLUB Filed May 13. 1959 INVENTORS CONKL/NQ- CHED/STER BY RONALD CHED/STEI? A TTORNCYS United States atent Gfiice 3,037,778 Patented June 5, 1962 Filed May 13, 1959, Ser. No. 812,956 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-186) The present invention relates to a novel and improved means for indicating the path through which a golf club is swung in play or practice. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved indicating means which operates unidirectionally, is actuated by wind resistance and which may be adjusted to compensate for various intensities of stroke.

An object of the present invention is to provide a swing indicator which operates only on the forward swing at the ball.

A further object of this invention is to provide a swing indicator which can be adjusted to compensate for various intensities of stroke.

Another object of the invention is the providing of a golf club swing indicator which comprises marking means in combination with a container therefor which is dispensed at a relatively uniform rate independent of the intensity of the stroke.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by the steps, methods and compositions of matter pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The present invention provides an indicator mechanism which is designed to project a fine stream or spray of marking material along the path of swing of a golf club as the club is accelerated in its downward flight toward the position of the ball and is designed to discontinue the emission of marking material as the club is decelerated or swung backwards.

Prior indicator mechanisms have depended upon a combination of inertia and centrifugal force to deposit an indicator material on the ground. One of the difiiculties in making use of such prior art embodiments was that a golfer would mark not only the path of his swing at a ball but also the path of any backswing. Another difficulty frequently encountered was the disagreeable problem of loading the indicator with marking fluid and insuring against inadvertent release of such fluid. This has been overcome in the present invention by providing the marking material in a unitary, easily replaceable, pressurized container.

The present invention provides an indicator mechanism which avoids the hazards attending the use of prior art mechanisms described above. The dispensing marking material only occurs when the club head is swung at the ball and can be regulated in such manner that the dispensing of the marking material is limited to a distance of about three feet approaching the ball and about one foot beyond. The valve is actuated by an arm which is moved by the pressure of the air through which the club head is swung against a vane extensibly mounted on one portion of said actuating arm. The extensible feature allows for increasing the available surface against which the resistnce of the air operates. This permits varying the force which must be exerted to result in the opening of the valve in accordance with the type of swing which is being practiced, since by extending the vane a longer lever is avaliable to multiply the effective force already increased by the greater available vane surface.

The second major portion of the swing indicator mechanism is a pressure-type container in which there is a marking material suspended in a solvent and low pressure propellant gas. This container is provided with a suitable valve such as one which is opened by displacing the spout to an off-center position. The vaned arm is combined with the pressurized can of marking fluid in such manner that upon its displacement by its passage through the air it in turn displaces the spout of the pressurized can, opening the valve and allowing the dispensing of the marking material onto the ground. The indicator mechanism is mounted on the golf club shaft close to the club head by conventional means such as described in the Chedister et al. Patent No. 2,804,306, in order that the dispensed marking material will be released rather proximate to the ground. This insures a distinct line which follows the path of the club in approaching the ball. The follow-through of the stroke is also indicated in the same manner until the deceleration of the club and resumption of the vaned arm to its rest position. Adjustment may be made in the position of the vane so that the marking material is dispensed along a path extending on either side of the ball.

The vane as indicated before, is extensible on the arm which actuates the valve mechanism of the pressurized can containing the marking material. Raising the vane to its full extension causes it to be pushed against by more air and also causes it to operate the arm through a longer path of leverage. This results in an opening of the valve and dispensing of the marking material with a less forceful stroke than would be required when the vane is not extended at all. Its position can be secured by simple means, such as a set screw passing through a slotted panel in the arm.

Many different kinds of solid or liquid marking material may be employed, finely divided or powdered freefiowing material such as starch, chalk, whiting and the like, may be used in the form of a suspension which can be dispensed from a pressurized container. The marking material may be of any desired color but it is preferable to use a marking material of such color that it will contrast well with the normal coloring of grass. A particularly preferred marking material is an aqueous suspension of partially hydrolized starch solution which contains the yellow dye tartrazine. This marking material may be propelled by a low pressure propellant such as Freon- 12. One of the reasons that this is particularly preferred is that it is readily dispersed by washing it away with water or more usually by rain. Where it is desirable that the path of the swing be more permanently defined a chrome yellow pigment might be substituted for the tartrazine.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a rear plan view of the swing indicator mechanism mounted on the shaft of a golf club,

FIGURE 2 is a rear plan view of the swing indicator mechanism with a valve of the pressurized can open as a result of the vaned arm being in the displaced position,

FIGURE 3 is a section taken through lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section taken through the median vertical plane of the valve mechanism when it is in open position,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the inner face of the vaned arm; and

FIGURE 6 is a section taken through lines 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

Now turning more particularly to the figures:

FIGURE 1 shows the shaft lcarrying club head 3 with face 5 and attached thereto by mounting means 7 the marking .device of the present invention which comprises a pressurized container in combination with an arm 9 which actuates valve 11' and "which is itself actuated by the displacement of vane 13 which is locked in place on said arm by lock-nut15,

FIGURE 2 shows the golf club head approaching the nadir of its path of swing. Air pressure against vane 13 displaces arm'9 from its rest position by pivoting it about its fulcrum 15 which rests on pressure clip 17. Displacement of'arm 9 opens valve 11 which releases a marking fluid 19 which indicates the path of the swing on the playing' surface.

FIGURE 3 which is a cross-section through 3-3 of FIGURE 1 shows the club shaft 1 bearing one portion of mounting means 7 locked in place by wing-nut 6 and holding on the other end of the mounting means pressurized container 8 bearing a curved vane 13 held in position on arm 9 by means of lock-nut 15, the curvature of said vane being such that it offers substantial resistance to the air as it is passed through it moving in the direction of club head 3,

FIGURE 4 shows a cross-section through the press'urized container 8 and valve 11 therefor showing the marking fluid 19 disposed above the valve which consists of a seal 21 and'displaceable spout 23 containing a channel 25 which communicates to the container reservoir proper and through which the marking fluid is dispensed. The spout member is held in its rest position by a tensioning', helical spring 27 thereby sealing off the channel 25' in the spout 23 from the reservoir. The lower portion of the spout 23 is connected to the arm 9 which supports the vane 13 and is itself displaced as a consequence of the displacement of the arm 9 by air pressure against the vaneit supports,

FIGURE 5 shows the vane 13 and arm 9 from the side that the air pressure is exerted upon. The vane 13 may be supplied with reinforcing ribs 29 which may be molded into it and a center channel 31 to accommodate the slotted arm 9 "through which slot 33 passes a lock-screw 16, which makes it possible to fix the height at which the vane 13 is carried by the arm 9 which height may be varied in order to vary the ease of opening the valve 11 and dispensing the marking fluid with the type of stroke desired to be studied by the user of the indicator.

FIGURE 6 shows a section through. 66 of FIGURE 1 showing the structure of the pressure clip 17 and its attachment to the pressurized container 8 as a result of the tension of said pressure clip 17 in holding the opposite edges thereof beneath the lip 35 ofthe neck 37 of the pressurized container 8. The section further shows the relation between the vaned arm 9 and the spout 23, of the valve mechanism in which said spout passes through "said arm and therefore operates in combination therewith.

The present invention may be used with conventional golf clubs by mounting indicator oni'the lower part of the shaft of the club so that when the club head is resting on the ground the spout of the indicator mechanism is from one to three inches 011 the ground. The indicator mechanism is mounted in such manner that it follows the club head through its path of flight. The height at which the vane is set may be determined roughly by estimating the force of the particular swing which is to be studied, the vane being set in its lowest and least airresistant position for drives and in its most elevated position to present the greatest surface against the air for the less vigorous swings. As the club is swung downward the resistance of the air against the vane displaces the arm and opens the valve emitting a marking fluid which traces the path of the club head along the playing surface. The height of the vane is such that the path traced by the marking fluid is one which begins about three feet behind the ball and continues for about one foot beyond it. As soon as the Velocity of the swing has diminished the vane which is no longer forced back by the resistance of the air, the arm and the cooperating valve resume their rest positions which stops all flow of marking material.

The indicator marking unit is good for several hundred uses. The pressurized container when exhausted may be easily replaced by removing it from the mounting means,

I detaching the pressure clip and vane carrying arm therefrom, attaching the vane carrying arm to a fresh, pressurized container of marking material and securing the pressure clip and returning the assembly to the mounting means. The change-over can be accomplished in about i one minute. All transferring of marking material from one container to another is avoided and the new unit is assured of proper functioning without the user having to bother about details. I

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific steps, methods'and compositions describedbut departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief ad'- vantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A swing indicating device mountable on the shaft of a conventional golf club which includes a pressurized container-dispenser of a fluid marking material having an outlet duct, sealing means engaging and normally closingsaid outlet duct, movable, air-current actuatable means associated with said outlet duct for displacement of the outlet duct out of engagement with the sealing means; and means for limiting movement of said aircurrent actuatable means in one direction.

2. A swing indicating'device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the air-current actuatable means is adjustable to vary the resistance offered thereby to air currents.

3. A swing indicating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the air-current actuatable means includes an aircurrent resistant vane and an arm connecting the. vane and the outlet duct, and wherein movementof the device through the air in one direction causes movement of the vane and arm from a rest position and displacement of the outlet duct from engagement with the sealing means.

4. A swing indicating device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the arm and vane are separate pieces said vane being extensible on said arm and fixable thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,782,631 Foss et al. Nov. 25, 1930 2,729,368 Lapin et a1. Jan. 3, 1956 2,804,306 Chedister et a1 Aug. 27, 1957 

